Update: Metropolitan Library System Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19

3/15/2020

Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of the public, all library locations will temporarily close effective 6pm on Sunday, March 15th and will stay closed for at least two weeks.

Decisions like these do not come easy, as it means a temporary loss of access to the in-person library services and gathering spaces the library is known for providing to so many in our community. However, this does not mean a complete shutdown of library services. While our physical libraries may be closed, we will continue to provide the many digital services our customers can access from home, such as e-books and e-audiobooks; streaming movies and TV services; free access to magazines and newspapers; and more.

We will be in continued contact with the Library Commission to evaluate our operations beyond this timeline. All library material holds will remain active and library materials already checked out can be renewed on our website for your convenience. Llibrary materials will not accrue fines during this period of library closure.

In addition to library locations being closed, we will continue the following steps that were put in place last week:

Discontinued library outreach to places throughout our community through the end of March 2020.   
Cancelled public meeting room bookings through the end of March 2020.  
Suspended volunteer opportunities at our libraries until the end of March 2020, including Friends of the Library volunteers.

Suspended book donations to our libraries and sort site until the end of March 2020.

Information about COVID-19 is rapidly changing. We are at an unprecedented moment in our city, state, and country. At this time of uncertainty, MLS is continuing to keep all those impacted by the virus in our thoughts. We are looking at ways of utilizing the many talents of our staff during this time while being considerate of their health and well-being.

We are doing everything we can to prevent the spread of illness throughout our libraries and that includes ensuring that we are following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control regarding social distancing. We look forward to being able to reopen when this outbreak has run its course and our communities begin to reconvene and rebuild a sense of normalcy.

3/13/2020

As you know, our country is experiencing an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, which is a respiratory illness. The virus has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States and recently to Oklahoma. In response the Metropolitan Library System is working with an abundance of caution to maintain a healthy environment for both staff and customers.

Also, during this time of rapidly evolving information, it’s important for us to do what we do best - gather resources and help the public stay informed. To do this, we have compiled information from the top health organizations both nationally and locally to develop content for our website. That is being reviewed and formatted today and we anticipate that it will be up on our website tomorrow. In addition, there will be informational flyers on the website as well as some attached to this email that you can print and share with staff and customers. We are preparing some hand washing signage for each location to place in all restrooms and next to break room sinks and those will be sent out soon.

MLS will continue to follow best hygiene practices for public spaces – including regularly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and equipment in our buildings, making hand sanitizer available to staff and customers, and encouraging frequent handwashing. We have verified that our janitorial staff use hospital-grade cleaning products when doing their regular cleaning.

While we are doing everything we can to prevent the spread of illness throughout our libraries, it’s also important to remember that we must each do our part in maintaining a healthy work environment. That means:

Washing your hands often and properly
Using hand sanitizer properly
Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze
Staying home if you have a fever or are feeling ill. (We will be working with the Commission to obtain flexibility regarding the current policy which requires a doctor's statement before returning to work after more than 3 consecutive missed shifts due to illness.)
Wearing gloves when handling returned materials or cash
Cancelling or moving to a virtual setting as many internal meetings as possible. For any other meetings which must be held in person follow the CDC recommendations for social distancing. This includes remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible. (The exception to this is our required monthly Commission meeting.)
Cancelling all library programs and events through the end of March. (all except online activities and this may be extended to April as needed)
Discontinuing outreach to places in the community through the end of March (may be extended to April as needed)
Begin cancelling meeting room bookings through the end of March as much as is possible. Communicate with customers that we are taking precautions for the health and safety of customers and staff. If a customer presents a strong case to retain their room booking you may take that into consideration. Commission meetings are not being cancelled.
Carefully considering travel plans.
- Personal travel: Authorities from the U.S. Department of State recommend you weigh the necessity of travel and the potential risks involved. Please review the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If your travel is to, or will pass through, any state or city within the US that has been heavily impacted by COVID-19 or is experiencing a declared state of emergency, or if it is to, or will pass through, any country with a CDC travel advisory of level 2, 3, or 4 we ask that you contact the Oklahoma State Department of Health hotline (877-215-8336) upon your return for direction on whether self-quarantine is required. MLS supports any employee who elects to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return from travel to one of those locations and any accrued leave may be used for this purpose.
- Travel for work: MLS will not sponsor travel to states that have declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Conferences impacted by this may be cancelled and the locations of concern are subject to change. We will keep you apprised of any conference concerns or location changes moving forward. MLS supports your choice to opt out of business travel during these extenuating circumstances - please work with your supervisor to obtain appropriate cancellations.
Caring for workspaces:
- Wear latex gloves and use disinfecting wipes to clean keyboards, headphones, mice, telephone receivers and buttons, and work surfaces in backrooms, on the public floor and for staff areas at the beginning of each shift.
- Wear latex gloves and use disinfecting wipes to clean doorknobs, refrigerator handles, railings, etc.
- Wear latex gloves and use disinfecting wipes to clean tables, doorknobs, etc. in study rooms and any meeting room spaces that may be used
- Remove games and early childhood toys from the public floor

According to the Centers for Disease Control, for the majority of people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. There is not widespread circulation in most communities in the United States. MLS will continue with standard operations other than programming, outreach, and meeting room use, and taking the precautionary steps outlined above will better prepare our system in the event any of our locations are impacted. We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps as needed. Our interest is to continue serving the library needs of our communities while maintaining the safety and health of our staff and public.

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